Trace Tam Sing lands with the Pirates

There wasn't a lot going on in the WSU sports world on Monday, so today I bring you three (moderately) fun facts.

Fun Fact No. 1 - Trace Tam Sing is now a Pirate

Not in the way people like to say Mike Leach is a pirate, but instead a Pittsburgh Pirate. Tam Sing wasn't drafted following his senior year, despite being drafted twice earlier in his career. He signed with Pittsburgh last week and made his debut on Sunday.

Trace Tam Sing Signs Free Agent Contract - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Trace Tam Sing to a free agent contract, July 24 and assigned him to the Jamestown (N.Y.) Jammers of the New York-Penn League. Tam Sing made his professional debut, July 27 with a 1-for-3 with a double while starting at shortstop for the Pirates’ Short Season A affiliate.

Fun Fact No. 2 - WSU defeated just one top 25 opponent since 2009

It's not really a surprise that number is low, but to see the 1-19 record even surprised me a little. WSU is one of four Pac-12 teams with four or fewer wins against top 25 teams since 2009. WSU and Colorado each have one with WSU's coming last year against USC.

Pac-12 football: Stanford, Oregon lead conference vs ranked opponents since 2009 | OregonLive.com
WORST: Washington State. The Cougars beat No. 25 USC 10-7 last season, which broke a 20-game losing streak against ranked opponents. Mike Leach gets enough attention for his unique way off the field. He needs to score a few more signature wins on it.

Fun fact No. 3 - Someone thinks WSU's logo looks like a caterpillar

There is apparently a website called SportzEdge.com, yes with the z. They are running a "coolest NCAA logo tournament" and ranked WSU eighth while saying the logo looks like a caterpillar. The website is powered by WTNH News 8 in Connecticut. From my experience of living in Connecticut, three out of five people I talked to thought Washington State University was in St. Louis or D.C. You can vote in their poll of best Pac-12 mascots which is currently being led by ASU with 16 votes.

Coolest NCAA Logo Tournament: Pac-12 – SportzEdge.com
Washington State’s caterpillar  Cougar is…well…interesting. It’d be even better if they just nicknamed themselves the "Caterpillars."

Football:

Pac-12 football: Stanford, Oregon lead conference vs ranked opponents since 2009 | OregonLive.com
WORST: Washington State. The Cougars beat No. 25 USC 10-7 last season, which broke a 20-game losing streak against ranked opponents. Mike Leach gets enough attention for his unique way off the field. He needs to score a few more signature wins on it.

Pac-12 Ultimate Road Trip: Week 9 - NCF Nation Blog - ESPN
My choice: Arizona at Washington State Why: It’s Pullman in late October, the jewel of Eastern Washington. Duh, why wouldn’t you want to be there?

Coolest NCAA Logo Tournament: Pac-12 – SportzEdge.com

Washington State’s caterpillar  Cougar is…well…interesting. It’d be even better if they just nicknamed themselves the "Caterpillars."

Baskeball:

Baynes and Motum to Compete in 2014 FIBA World Cup - Washington State University Official Athletic Site

Although they never played in Cougar uniforms together, former Washington State men’s basketball student-athletes, Aron Baynes and Brock Motum, will share a court this summer as the two were selected to the Airbnb Australian Boomers Team that will compete in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, Aug. 30 through Sept. 14.

Baseball:

Trace Tam Sing Signs Free Agent Contract - Washington State University Official Athletic Site

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Trace Tam Sing to a free agent contract, July 24 and assigned him to the Jamestown (N.Y.) Jammers of the New York-Penn League. Tam Sing made his professional debut, July 27 with a 1-for-3 with a double while starting at shortstop for the Pirates’ Short Season A affiliate.